Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-03-20
4 SIUGGISG MATCH
At the Grand Central Theatre. Between
Jack King and BiIson Jack.

At the Grand Central Theatre, Between
Jack King and Bilson Jack.
Quite large crowd of men and boys as
seInbled at the Grand Central Theatre last
evening 10 witness the sparing match be
tween Jack King OF this city, and Bilson
Jack of Pittsburg, who have apparently
been anX iOus to yet at each other for some
time past James Bennett was master Of
ceremonies, and he invited any one of the
audience who wanted TO have some fun TO
come up and put on the gloves for awhile,
until the men were ready, but no one
seemed 10 care about mOnkeying.
At9 O'clock it was announced that
Frank Coughlin, puddler and James
Lee, an employe at the pottery, would
open the ball with IN exhibition sparring
match, and they appeared on the stage.
They then INDUCED in four rounds of
three minutes each, both showing good
deal of science, Lee being the quicker and
more aggressive of the two. They both
did some right earnest hitting, and the
audience became pretty well prepared for
what was TO follow.
After an intermssion of some ten or
fifteen minutes King and Bilson Jack APP
peared on the stage and were prepared for
the contest. Michael O'Neil was selected
as referee and Robert Anderson time
keeper. II was announced that there
would be- six rounds of three minutes each
between the men, one minute between
each round King was attircd in knee
pants of blue and Bilson Jack wore white,
neither wearing shirts. The gloves used
were six ounces each.
After the men had shaken hands time
was called and the men went at II in "a
manner that Immediately looked like busi.
ness. After each man had gotten in sew
eral blows they locked and began slugginR
each other promiscuously, creating the
greatest excitement in the audience, while
the referee was unable to do anything.
Shouts of "break away" 'lct 'em 90,
etc, etc, were heard from all over the
house, but the slugging match went on.
II was SUPPOSED that it was 10 be
scientific sparring match for points, bnt
neither man showed much science. Two
school boys could have slugged each other
the way they did, and that seemed Ia h.
what they were after. Had their knuckles
been bare both would have been punished
severely. The slugging became so earnest
that Mayor Seabrgbt, who was present,
in company with Chief Of Police Smith,
called a halt and informed the men
that if they intended 10 give sparriDg
match TO do 80, but no fighting like
they were induIging in would be allowed.
A wild scene Of excitement was presented
at this time, every man IN the house being
on his feet and many Of them shouting.
Some wanted the sluggiBg 10 on while
Others wanted 10 see sparring match.
and the master Of ceremonies came out
and thanked the Mayor for his interier-
ence
When time WAS called for the second
round the men again got good start
and it was about a repetition
Of the first round. and il
was found necessary 10 again interfere
with the proceedings The TOnnd, how.
ever ended by King throwing BilSon Jack
clear over his shoulder and alighting him on
the floor, back downward. This ended
the round amidst wild excitement, BilsOn
Jack being picked up by one Of his attend
ants IN this round King tapped hIs OPP
poneDt for the Grst claret.
The third round was an improvement,
both men doing some hard hitting. and
not 81 much close fighting. Again King
threw BilsOn Jack 20 the floor. The fourth
and fifth rounds were both very exciting
and BilsOn Jack drew the ciaret from bis
opponent in the fifth; while he commenced
getting in some heavy left handlers on
Kings left cheek. This was continued in
the sixth and last round, at the end Of
which King seemed to lie pretty
we'll winded. After the curtain
went down the men almost
eUme to blows while they were dressing
and only the intervention Of friends pre-
vented this Bilson Jack seems TO be the
quickest and most scientific Of the two,
although be has an unfair way Of using his
head against his opponents face. He
stated that King had broken his right
thumb in the first round.
Referee O'Eeal decided the contest n
draw, and both men appeared very much
unsatisfed. II IL probable that another
match or prize fight may follow.